Upton to consider status of treasurer job

UPTON - Residents next month will be asked to consider changing the job of town's treasurer/collector from elected to appointed, a move the current office holder opposes.

An article on the Annual Town Meeting warrant requests the change, akin to last year's effort to make the town clerk an appointed slot. The Board of Selectmen, in a letter endorsing the article, said the move has been suggested in several management audits.

"The town has less than 7,000 residents, which limits the available talent pool capable of being elected as a town treasurer/collector," the letter reads. "Recently, two much larger towns (Milford and Franklin) approved bylaw changes to appoint their treasurer/collectors versus having this critical position be elected."

Board members have stated in the past that the move does not reflect any concern about current treasurer/collector Kenneth Glowacki, but instead looks to the future of the position.

"Society is becoming more complex, and there are fewer people wanting to, or able to, hold office," the letter reads. "What if no person came forward to run for this position? An appointment to this position eliminates the risk factor."

The letter further notes that, though many feared creating a town manager position with broad powers, the change has proved beneficial to Upton.

Glowacki, though, said he intends to speak against the move at Town Meeting.

"I think the article assumes there isn't enough talent in town, or that people wouldn't be interested in running," he said. "I know there are other people in town who have worked in positions related to the treasurer/collector job."

"The article makes the assumption that townsfolk are not sophisticated enough to understand who is qualified for the job," he added.

Glowacki said he believes an elected treasurer can provide benefits that an appointed one could not.

"Being elected allows me the independence to give contrary views at Town Meeting," he said. "Being elected also gives me a certain sensitivity to the problems of my neighbors - I'm not just a bureaucrat."

He said he was somewhat skeptical of efforts to remove town offices from voter consideration.

"I think people really have to consider it when they give up the right to vote - you're never going to get that back," he said.

Mike Gleason can be reached at 508-634-7546 or mgleason@wickedlocal.com. For news throughout the day, follow him on Twitter @MGleason_MDN.